Metal chair



Oct. 4, 1955 SCHAFFER METAL CHAIR Filed Sept. 20, 1950 United States Patent METAL CHAIR Harvey Schalfer, Chicago, Ill.

Application September 20, 1950, Serial No. 185,895

"19 Claims. (Cl. 155-194) The present invention'relates to supports for furniture in general, and more particularly to supports for such articles of furniture as chairs, sofas, tables, beds, dressers, and the like.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a support for an article such as above mentioned, or for a portion of such an article, as for instance the back rest of a chair, which support may be made of tubular or rod-like metal, preferably resilient, bent to the desired shape and which can then be sprung into position in such a way as to provide structural continuity with respect to the structure that it is to support, and will not only support the structure but form a part thereof for srengthening it. In order to facilitate this arrangement the structure that is to be supported is provided with an inwardly or an outwardly facing channel, or the equivalent of such a channel, which extends around the periphery of the object to be supported, or along a portion of the periphery; an is adapted to receive and hold the metal support that is to support the object.

The present invention can be applied to a chair that consists of a seat, a back, and means for supporting the seat and back. In accordance with the principles of the invention the seat and the back, or frames for the seat and back, are each provided along their peripheries with a trough which may be in the form of an outwardly or an inwardly facing channel, or may be formed by bending the edges of the seat and back, or frames therefor, to form such a channel. The support for the seat comprises one or more rods or tubes of material having the necessary strength and resiliency, which rods or tubes are bent to the desired shape. The shape of the rod or tube is such that it cannot fit into the trough formed at the periphery of the seat unless it is distorted a small amount, which amount is within the elastic limit of the material of which the rod or tube is made. Thus, in assembling the units, the support is first stressed within its elastic limit, to enable it to be positioned in the trough and it is then released whereby it springs back under its natural resiliency towards its original shape and is thus held in the trough of the chair seat to support the chair seat. The same principles are applied for mounting the back rest. In one construction of the present invention the back rest consists of a rectangular frame having an outwardly facing channel, which frame acts as a support for the upholstering of the chair back. A rod is bent to form a pair of rear chair legs and to form a support for the rear of the chair seat and to form a rectangular opening for the back rest. The size of the rectangular opening is such that it is slightly too small to fit past the flanges of the channel of the frame for the back rest. However, there is suflicient resiliency in the rod to permit flexing thereof an amount necessary to clear the flanges of the channel frame of the back rest without exceeding the elastic limit of the rod. Thereafter, on re lease of the flexed structure it springs under its own resiliency into the trough or channel and holds the back rest in place.

2,719,579 Patented Oct. 4, 1955 The principles of the present invention may also be applied to a table or other similar type structure that is to be supported by sets of legs at opposite ends thereof. The rim of the table is made so that it includes a channel frame, facing either inwardly or outwardly, and the legs consist of two separate rods, each of which is bent to provide two legs for the table. The rods are bent so that in the case of an outwardly facing channel, they embrace the ends of the table and extend a small distance along the longitudinal sides thereof, lying within the channel. From there the rods are bent downwardly at the ends thereof to provide supporting legs. At the points where the rods are bent downwardly the lower flange of the channel is notched or cut away to permit the downwardly bent portions of the rods to be seated therein. The bent rods are sprung into position and, being seated within the notches, are locked into the channel. In the case of an inwardly facing channel the same principles apply, except that the rod is sprung so that it exerts an outward spring pressure into the channel.

The attainment of the above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of a chair constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the chair shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the chair shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing a portion of the frame for the seat of the chair and also showing a portion of the resilient rod forming the front legs of the chair;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 5, but showing a different means for holding the rod in the flanged member;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a table incorporating the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the table shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a view of a frame member in the form of an I-beam which may replace the frame member having a single channel; and

Fig. 10 is a view showing a member which may be a table top, chair seat, or the like, which itself is bent at the edge thereof to provide a channel or trough for receiving the resilient rod.

Reference may now be had more particularly to the drawing wherein like reference numerals designate like parts throughout.

In Figures 1 to 4 there is shown a chair having a seat frame 12 and a back rest frame 14. The seat frame 12 comprises a channel-shaped member, of any desired material, bent into a generally rectangular shape, having upper and lower flanges 16 and 18 joined by a web 20. The back rest frame 14 is likewise formed of a strip of material of a channel cross section which is bent into a rectangular shape with the abutting edges of the bent channel separate from one another or joined in any desired manner. It will be noted that the flanges onthe seat frame 12 and back rest frame 14 face outwardly, but it is contemplated that the flanges could extend inwardly if desired. The frames 12 and 14 may thereafter be padded, or have the usual upholstering applied thereto, in any manner known in the art. Since this forms'no part of the present invention I have herein shown the seat frame and the back rest frame as open frames to which covering may be applied in any desired manner.

A frame 12 is supported at the front by a front supporting member 22 which is preferably made of resilient metal rod or metal tube that is bent to form a pair of legs 24. There is a bend 26 at the top of each leg to form a short arm 27, and there being then a following bend at 28 to form an extended portion 29 To faeilitate positioning this support onto the channel frame 12 ;the lower flange 18 of thechannel is cut awayasat 3!), on

opposite sides of the chair adjacenttq but spaeed, fr om When the support 22 is, disas-,

the front of the, frame. sembled from the seat frame and assumes its natural shape the front portion 29 of thesupport is of a length equal to the distance between the outer faces of thewebs frame 12. Thus, assuminglthat the angles betweenthe front and sides of the seat frame12 are right angles, then the natural angle formed in the rod 22 at the bends, 28-28 When the rod 22,

are somewhat less than right angles. is assembled in the seat frame 12 as shown in the drawing, the arms 27-27 are flexed. apart to increase the spread between the bends 26-26. and topermit, the leg H portions 24-24 to ride on the outside of the lower flange 18 of the frame. The notches 30 are sopositioned in the lower flange 18 that when the portion ZQIof the support engages the web at the front portion ofthe. channel frame 12 the leg portions 24-24 spring into the notches 30. Thus, when the resilient supporting member 22 and the seat frame 12 are assembled as shown in the drawing, the arms 27-27 thereof have been flexed outwardly from their normal position, but within the elastic limits of the materials involved. As the leg portion 24 slides along the flange.18 the arms 27 are under stress, and when the leg portion 24 reaches the notch 30 the arms 27 spring into the trough ofjthe channel frame 12. This locks the leg structure 22 into position inthe trough of the channel of the frame 12. As is aparent, the front edges of the notches 39 lock the resilient supportingmember 22 against forward movement with re spect to the seat frame A rear supporting member 32 made of the same material as the front supportingrnember 22 is seated in .the channel at the rear of theframe12 in substantially the same manner as is the front supporting member. rear supportingmember 32 has ,bends at 33-33 that extend from legs 34 to rearwardly projecting arm portions 35 that correspond to the arm portions 27,. The arm successive bends 40 and 41, going around the bottom and The bottom flangeof the top corners of the frame 14. channel frame 12 has notches 30 at the rear thereof corresponding to notches bearing the same reference numeral at the front thereof, and forrcceiving theleg portions 34 of the rear supporting member 32. Asthe.

rear supporting member 32 bends upwardly M 36 (Fig.

2) to form the upwardly projecting portion 37 it passes through a notch 42 in the upper flange 16 at the rear of the frame 12, which notch is similar to the notch 30 illustrated in Figure 4.

The bends in the rear supporting member 32- are suitably spaced apart and at proper angles such that when the member 32 is positioned in the channel in the back rest 14 the arms 37-37' thereof have been sprung apart by the back rest frame, but within the elastic limits of the material, so that the resiliency of the rod causes it to grip the frame 14. Likewise, the resiliency of the gear supporting member causes the arms 35-35-thereof to grip the opposite transverse sides of the frame 14 into the channel ofwhich the rear supporting member 32 has been sprung. By reason of the rear notches 30 formed in the lower flange 18 of the seat frame, the portions of the The member 32 between the bends 33 and 36 are held against rearward retraction from the frame 12.

In the structure herein shown it is apparent that the support which lies in the trough of the channel of the frame 12 becomes an integral part of the frame and serves to strengthen that frame. Since the arms 27-27 at the front supporting member 22 constantly compress the sides of the frame 12 towards one another it is apparent that if the frame-12 is made of a single piece of channel metal, bent to the desired shape, the meeting edges of that channel may be located in the front horizontal. portion, ofthe frame12 between the arms 27-27 and, being in abutment and pressed towards one another by the arms 27,these abutting edges do not have to be welded together.

If desired the front supporting member 22 need not be held in place merely by its own resiliency. It need not be sprung into the channel. It may be held in place as by a screw or the like that passes through the channel frame 12'and threads into a tapped hole in the supporting member 22. This is illustrated in Figure 6 wherein there is shown a screw 43 that extends through a hole in the web 20of the channel and threads into a tapped hole in the supporting member 22. One or more such screws may be used as desired. If the front of the frame 12 is split, then two holding screws 43, located with the split portion of the frame 12 between them, are sufficient to tie the front supporting member 22 to the frame 12 and to tie the ends of the frame 12 together.

Reference may now be had more particularly to Figures 7 and 8 which show the present invention applied as a support for a table, bed, or other article of furniture. A generally rectangular frame 47 which comprises the base for a--table top, or the base for a bed spring, or the base for an article of furniture to be placed thereon, is formed by bending a channel-shaped structural member the same as the base 12 is formed. It may be formed with the flanges of the channel facing outwardly as in Figure 2 or facing inwardly as in Figure 7. The frame is formed wtih a pair of upper and lower flanges 48 and 49 joined by a Web 50. A pair of supporting members 5252, each of which is like the supporting member 22 of the chair previously described, are formed of either rod material or of tubular material, preferably material having the requisite resiliency. The rods are bent as at 54 and 56 to form arms 55-55 joined by an intermediate portion 57 and from which arms a pair of legs 58extenddownwardly and outwardly of one another. The support illustrated in Figure 7 is located on the inside of the frame member 47 and therefore the bends 54-54 are, in their normal position, of such an extent that the arms 55-55 form angles greater than 90 with the intermediate portion 57. When a support 52 is to be positioned within the frame 47 the support is moved into place to bring the intermediate portion 57 thereof against the inside surface of the web at the transverse side of the frame 47 and the arms 55 opposite the flanges of the channel. At this time the arms -55 are manually flexed towards one another. The lower flange 49 is provided wtih notches 60, similar to the notches 30previouslydescribed, into which notches the legs 58-58 are then permitted to snap to lock the supporting member 57 in place. The member isthen held in place,by the outward pressure of the arms 55-55 against the webs of the channel of the frame 47.,

InrtheJstructure illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 the frame 47 maybe a rectangular :frame having-sharp corners as isdesired in some articles offurniture. This is possible because the supporting structure-is on the in-- side of'the frame and therefore the bends 54 may be rounded at a considerable radius, since there is no objec tion to the fact that the rounded bends 54'clear the frame 47; This differs from the structure of Figure 1 wherein the front supporting member 22 is'on the outside of the frame 12, and the rounded corners 28 of the frontsupporting member 22 must closely hug the frame 12, which requires that the frame 12 have rounded corners.

In the structure of Figures 7 and 8 the supporting members 5252 form an integral part of the frame 47. If desired, the support members 52-52 may be secured to the channel frame as by screws such as 43 in Figure 6, in which case reliance is not placed on the resiliency of the support members 5252 for holding the support members assembled in the frame 47. If the resiliency of the support members is not relied upon then, if desired, the support members may be made of relatively less resilient material.

It is understood that the frame 47 is covered with a flat member to constitute a table, or may be provided with means for supporting a bed spring where the structure is to constitute a bed support.

While I have herein described the frame of the chair,

of Figure 1 as being an outwardly facing channel section, and the structures of Figures 7 and 8 as being an inwardly facing channel section, either one may be inwardly facing or either one may be outwardly facing. Likewise, while I have herein spoken of the frames 12 and 47 as being made of channel section, they may be made of any other desired section that provides a channel. For instance, in Figure 9 there is shown a cross section of a structural member suitable for the frames 12 or 47, wherein the structural member is of an H shape in cross section or of a shape corresponding to that of an I-beam. This structural member is bent to the shape of the frame 12 or the shape of the frame 47 and then the supporting members 22 or 52, as the case may be, are positioned in the inwardly facing channel or in the outwardly facing channel, as desired.

In Figure there is shown a structure wherein the rod-receiving channel is indicated at 70, that channel being formed in a member 72 which may itself comprise a table top, or the chair seat, or the bed or sofa frame, or the like. The channel or trough 70, as is obvious from Figure 10, is formed in the member 72 by die forming or bending over the edge of the member 72.

This trough or channel 70 would be arranged to extend around the periphery of the member 70 the same as in Figures 1 or 7.

It is understood that parts of any of the constructions disclosed in any of Figures 1, 6, 7, 9 and 10 may be combined with parts disclosed in the other figures to produce the desired structure. Further, the strength of the rod or tube constituting the legs of the article of furniture is utilized to supplement the strength of the frame member within which it is situated, the arrangement being such that either the frame embraces the supporting member or the supporting member embraces the frame.

The present invention provides a support for an article, such as above mentioned, exploiting the engineering properties of the rod or tubular section on the one hand, and the beam shapes on the other, in such a way as to achieve structural continuity. In this invention the beam section can be expected to receive, in any number of ways, the loads such as are common to furniture, the only requisite being structural adequacy. However, it is the nature of this invention that structural continuity be achieved by the use of rod section, fit into a shape as male and female components, insofar as the requirements of this structural continuity invention dictates. For simplicity of illustration, the rod will be selected to clarify the principle of the male part, and the channel the female part, it being basic to this invention that the channel be designed so that the rod fits into the channel, touching the web and also the two flanges. Three types of structural continuity logically follow:

1. The rod would be locked in place with reference to its movement towards either flange. Fastened together, for example, by screws, in the plane of the channel web, the rod would be held in position in the channel. If

bent with the channel, the rod would be restrained from rotating on its own axis.

2. The rod and channel bent into an enclosed shape, the rod exploiting its resiliency within its elastic limit to lock itself in place, holding also, if necessary, the channel abutments.

3. The channel bent into an enclosed space, the rod straddling one side by exploiting its resiliency, holding if desired the channel abutment, then bent out of the plane of the web, the flanges being notched out for this purpose, forming in effect a lock.

All of the above methods apply to a variety of structural shapes in addition to the channel, I, and H, sections, the only requirement being the minimum three point female relationship to the male rod or tubular shape. An exception to the above would be a channel, or allied shape, with only the two flanges in contact with the male rod. In this instance the three types of structural continuity would apply, but would be generally inferior. Also the above structural shapes may change, when beyond the rod or tubular section, into a variety of forms, structural adequacy being the only requisite. Additionally, the rod or tubular section may be sprung into these sections when fabricated with angular corners as well as rounded ones.

These sections with the general shape of the structural angle are also applicable to this invention, but would have a minimum two point female relationship to the male rod. All the above could apply, except the exploitation of the resiliency of the rod may not be necessary and in lieu of the second flange as, for example, with the channel, it may be desirable to screw the angle and rod together in all three cases.

Another type would be a structural flat surface, fabricated into various planes for stability, the rod straddling it, and locked in place, for example, by screws.

The present invention has been here illustrated as applied to a chair that has a seat and a back. In accordance with the principles of the invention, the seat and back can be composed of separate support channel members. By the means outlined in method No. 3, the rod is formed on a rectangle to become the two front legs. The formation of the rear section is similar, except that a single rod is bent to almost enclose the rectangle that is the back, as in method No. 2, turns down, straddles the rear of the seat, then becoming the rear legs. It will be noted that the back channel section becomes locked in place by exploiting the resiliency of the rod within its elastic limit, to be sprung into the channel, holding it on all sides, and that it can also be expected to grip the sides of the seat. Metals with a high degree of resiliency can be expected to do both, but when lower resiliency metals are used, method No. 1 screws, located for example at the rear sides of the seat, can accomplish the same result. Also, one construction of the invention, especially suitable for chairs, consists of a frame, bent at its corners out of one channel, its flanges facing outward, upon which upholstering is applied continuously along the front, rear, and sides, both being locked in place by the rod or rods straddling it.

It is important to note that the rod and beam element are combined into a composite shape for structural continuity, but still freely follow their own shape logic. This tends towards ease of fabrication. For example, a single H section can be bent into a rectangular dimension of a bed, its abutment locked in place on the short side, by a single rod straddling the side and forming two legs. A similar construction would apply to the opposite side. The bed loadings can then be readily resolved onto this frame.

This type of frame can also, by mere dimensional changes, be used for a variety of purposes, such as for tables, desks, seats, storage unit, equipment, or radio supports, as well as many other purposes.

In compliance with the requirements of the patent statutes I have here shown and described a few preferred embodiments of my invention. It is, however, to be understoodth'at the invention is not limited tothe precise constructions here shown, the same being merely illustrative of the broad principles of the invention. What is considered new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1: An article of furniture including a base member and a resilient rod constituting a support member for the base member, the rod being bent to constitute a pair of legs and an intermediate portion offset from the legs and a pair of arms joining the intermediate portion and the respective legs, one of the two members embracing the other, the pair of 'arms of the support member. being strained by the embracing ,relationship with the base member out of their normal position with respect to one another but within their elastic limits to cause the arms to exert a spring pressure against the base member due to the natural resiliency of the support member.

2. An article of manufacture includinga base comprising a structural beam bent into a generally rectangular shape with the ends of the beam in abutment, a rodbent to constitute -a clip including a pair of arms joined by an intermediate portion, the'arms and the intermediate portion of the clip extending along a portion of 'the contour of the base and embracing the base with the intermediate portion of the clip overlying the side of the base where the ends" of the structural beam are in abutment 3.' An article of manufacture including a base comprising a structural beam bent into a generally rectangular shape with the ends of the beam in abutment, a resilient rod bent to constitute a clip including a pair of arms joined by an intermediate portion, the clip embracing the base with the intermediate portion'of the clip overlying the side of the base where the ends of the structural beam are in abutment, the arms of the clip being spread by the base and exerting a pressure thereagainst in a direction urging the abutted ends of the beam towards one another, the arms being extended and bent at their ends in a direction away from the base to form supporting legs.

4; An article of manufacture including a base comprising a structural beam bent into a generally rectangular shape with the ends of the beam in abutment, arod bent to constitute a clip including a pair of arms joined by an intermediate portion, the clip embracingthe base with the intermediate portion of the clip overlying the.

side of the base where the ends of the structural beam are in abutment, the arms being extended andbent at.

5. In a support for an article, a base member, a chan nel in said base member, and a rod having a generally U-shaped portion seated within and biased toward said channel, said rod being otherwise deformed to provide legs for the support.

6.'In a support for an article, a base having a pheripheral channel which includes opposite flanges, and a resilient'member having a portion deformed within its elastic limits and seated within said channel at three consecutive sides of the base, the deformation of said portion being suchas insure biasing thereof into said channel, one of-"said fla'nges having a notch therein in a continuous length' of'the flange, said resilient member being further deformed-and'extending across the flange through said notch thereby-locking said resilient member against sliding lengthwise of said channel, a portion of said resilient member-extending beyond the notch and comprising a leg for-the support;

7. In a support for an article, a base having a peripheral channel, a resilient member havinga deformed portion seated'within said channel, and means for locking said resilient member in said channel between said flanges, said resilient member being furthed deformed to cross a flange of the channel and provide legs for the ity of sides, a peripheral channel'formed inthe sides of said base, a rod 'haviriga portion thereof engaged with and seated within. the channel in at least three of said sides, means engaging ,said rod for locking it in the channel, and means forminglegs for saidsupport comprising portions of said rod beyond the said portion engaged with the channel.

9. In a support for an article, a rectangular frame, said frame having a pair of parallel flanges aroundthe periphery thereoflfand'a resilient rod partially conforming to a portion of the periphery of said frame and seated between said flanges, portions of said rod on opposite sides of the frame beingsprung by the frame .to change the spacingof 'said portions. from one another whereby said portions thereof are continuously biased toward said frame, saidtrod .beingfurther deformed in order to provide legs for the support.

10. In a support fonan article, a rectangular frame,

said frame having a pair of parallel inwardly protruding flanges aroundlhe periphery thereof, and a resilient rod partially conforming to a portion of the periphery of said frame and seated between said flanges, portions of said rod beingsprung byjhe frame whereby portions thereof are continuously biased toward said frame, said rod being further deformed in .orderto provide legs for the support.

11. In a chair, a frame for the seat of the chair comprising a member having a channel formed therein, a pair of resilient rods having deformed portions seatedwithin andbiased .towards said channel, said rods being further deformed to provide legsfor the chair, one side of said channel havinga plurality of notches therein, said rods being seated in said notchesfor thereby locking them in said channel, andaback rest frame for the chair comprising a second member having a channel formed there-. in, one .of said rods havinga portionto the shape of the back rest .frame and positioned within the channel in said back rest frame .and .supporting the back rest frame.

12. In a chair, a frame for the seat of the chair comprising,a.member having -,a channel formed therein, a pair of resilient rods having portions flexed and seated within andbiased towards said channel by their natural resiliency, saidLrods-being further deformed to provide legs for the. chair, .one side of said channel having a.

plurality of notches..-therein, said rods extending through said notchesfor: thereby ,lockirig them in said channel, the other. side of said channelbeing notched, and a frame for the backrof. the chair comprising a second member having a channel formed therein, one of said rods being still' further..deformed,..seated.in said last mentioned notch, seatingly positionedin-and biased towards said channel 'in said second member.

13. In a support for an article of furniture, a base member. having a.-plurality of .sides, channels formed in each .ofusaid sidesya pair. of resilient members, each of said resilient members being ,seated within three of said channels, each of .said resilient members engaging subtantially ,the entire length-of one. of the sides of said base member and Eengagingonly por.tions oftwo other sides thereof,..said resilient..members beingsprung whereby they are -'-biased into thechannels in the two sides. of said -basermernber, at-least one ,side of each of said channels having a notch intermediate the ends thereof and said resilient members extending through said notch for locking them in the channels in which they are seated, and a plurality of legs for they support formed by other portions of said resilient members.

14. An article of manufacture including a base comprising a structural beam bent into a generally rectangular shape with the ends of the beam in abutment, a continuous rod bent to constitute a clip including a pair 'of arms.

jo'ined by an intermediate portion, the clip embracing the base with the intermediate portion of the clip extending along the full length of one side of the base, the arms of the clip extending along fractional lengths of two other sides of the base, the arms being bent at their ends in a direction away from the base to form supporting legs, and means for maintaining said arms against sliding movement along the base.

15. An article of manufacture including a base comprising a flanged structural beam bent into a generally rectangular shape with the ends of the beam in abutment, a continuous rod bent to constitute a clip including a pair of arms joined by an intermediate portion, the clip embracing the base with the intermediate portion of the clip extending along the full length of one side of the base, the arms of the clip extending along fractional lengths of two other sides of the base, the arms being bent at their ends in a direction away from the base to form supporting legs, and means for maintaining said arms against sliding movement along the base, said last means comprising a notch formed in the flange of the beam at a continuous length thereof and the bent portion of the arms extending through said notch and embraced by the edges thereof.

16. In a support for an article, a base member, a channel in said base member, and a rod having a generally U-shaped portion seated within the channel and embraced by the flanges of said channel, said rod being otherwise deformed to provide legs for the support, said rod crossing the lower flange of the channel with the center lines of the legs intersecting said lower channel flange, and one of said lower flange and rod being slotted where the rod crosses the lower flange.

17. An article of furniture comprising a flanged metal strip bent to constitute an open frame having a generally vertical portion extending continuously along substan tially the entire perimeter of the frame and having a flange projecting therefrom and co-extensive with the length of the vertical portion, and supporting means for the frame comprising rod means shaped to extend along spaced fractional parts of the periphery of the article be tween the top and bottom of the vertically extending portion, the vertical portion with its flange being continuous between said parts, the rod means extending angularly out of the frame to constitute supporting column elements.

18. An article of furniture comprising a flanged structural strip shaped to form a frame having a generally vertical portion extending continuously along substantially the entire perimeter of the frame and having a flange projecting therefrom and co-extensive with the length of the vertical portion, and supporting means for the frame comprising rod means shaped to extend along spaced fractional parts of the periphery of the article between the top and bottom of the vertically extending portion, the vertical portion with its flange being continuous between said parts, the rod means crossing the flange and extending angularly out of the frame to constitute supporting column elements and at least one of said crossing rod and flange being notched to receive the other.

19. An article of furniture comprising a flanged structural strip shaped to form a frame having a generally vertical portion extending continuously along substantially the entire perimeter of the frame and having a flange projecting therefrom and co-extensive with the length of the vertical portion, and supporting means for the frame comprising rod means shaped to extend along spaced fractional parts of the periphery of the article between the top and bottom of the vertically extending portion, the vertical portion with its flange being continuous between said parts, the rod means extending outwardly of the frame to constitute supporting column elements, and the rod means and the frame being in position such that one straddles the other, the structural strip retaining the rod means in a flexed position so that the rod means and the frame are in spring pressure engagement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,752,734 Duke Apr. 1, 1930 2,046,715 Zerbee July 7, 1936 2,140,635 Konarski Dec. 20, 1938 2,302,969 McMahan Nov. 24, 1942 2,390,878 Greitzer Dec. 11, 1945 2,440,470 Greitzer Apr. 27, 1948 2,525,126 Greitzer Oct. 10, 1950 2,541,835 Saarinen Feb. 13, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 17,872 Australia Dec. 12, 1929 54,292 Norway Aug. 20, 1934 363,018 France Apr. 21, 1906 

